Chicago Tribune, January 4, 1856
Progress of Chicago As Shown In Her Real Estate Improvements
We present below to our readers, a statement of the principal buildings erected during the year 1855; stating in each instance the cost of the edifice, the purpose for which it was erected, the material used in its construction, its size, and the name of the architect under whose supervision it was built. The preparation of this article has cost us some labor and pains, and after all it is not perfect, for we have no doubt that we have omitted many large and costly buildings that have not come under our observation; while we have not even attempted to enumerate the large number of small houses erected during the year. But such as it is, it demonstrates the fact that the progress of Chicago is of no mushroom growth. Most of the buildings described below are either built of brick or stone, and many of them are faced with the beautiful white Athens marble, and would be an ornament to any city in the world.
The cost of the whole, excluding $50,000 expended in the public improvement of the city as per statement, is, $2,051,050. This, it must be remembered, is the cost merely of the buildings, and does not include the cost of the sidewalk or the cost of the land.
The amount, large as it is, falls a little short of the amount expended in building during 1854, which was $2,438,900; but this is accounted for by the fact that during that year a greater number of costly buildings were built, such as the Church of the Holy Name, estimated to cost 6100,000; the Marine Bank, $70,000, the Masonic Temple, $45,000, tho Briggs House, $50,000; addition to Young America, $30,000, First Baptist Church, $40,000; the two grain warehouses on the West Side, $11,000; the grain and freight houses of the Galena Railroad, $87,000; freight and engine houses of the Illinois Central Railroad, $142,000, &c:—and that during this year, the attention of our builders has been devoted mainly to the erection of a class of houses costing from $1000, to $15,000, many for dwellings ranging from $6,000 to $10,000, and that the number of houses built has been much greater than in 1851. We think that the erection of dwelling houses is as necessary for the growth, and is even more productive of a permanent increase of our city, than even the erection of business structures. The hundreds of families coming to this city, must have better conveniences than those which are to be had even in the best regulated hotels and boarding houses.
SOUTH DIVISION.
Michigan Avenue.
Richmond House, corner of South Water street, 131 by 72, for the Hon. T. Richmond, is in a good state of forwardness, and to be completed next May, leased for a term of years to John Taber, Esq., late of the Lapierre House, Philadelphia—the building is six stories in a height of 82 feet exclusive of a basement 10 feet deep. Both fronts will be of cut Athen’s stone, and of beautiful design. This hotel will be the most magnificent yet erected in the West, being in the New York scale of splendor in everything pertaining to the building and its purpose. The interior arrangement will embrace much that is new in convenience and comfort, to which the present hotels here are strangers: nothing that the liberality of the owner can supply or devise will be omitted to render it complete and entire in every sense of the word. The building will be surmounted by an an immense refreshment saloon. Also, a very large cupola or observatory, from which the most extended and magnificent view of the surrounding scenery, especially Lake Michigan, to which all true lover of nature will resort, and be amply repaid for the little trouble they will be put to in being raised up from the ground in cars worked by machinery, a feature that strikes us as being truly novel, but quite in keeping with the go-a-headativeness of the times, the people, and none the less of Chicago, in particular. Probable cost something less than $100,000. Architects, Olmstead & Nicholson; cut stone, Illinois Stone and Lime Company; mason, N. E. Peterson; carpenter, Ira Foote.
A dwelling house, for W. Blair, built of stone, 28 by 64 feet, three stories high and a basement. Cost $18,000. Carter & Bauer, architects, 51 La Salle street.
Block of two dwelling houses, for Messrs. Wallace & Maher, three stories high, 45 by 50 feet. Cost $7,000. Edward Haviland, architect, firm of Haviland & Foster, Marine Bank.
Dwelling, adjoining the Bishop’s Palace, for Geo. Steel, Esq., 25 by 73 feet, white cut stone, front of chaste and elegant design. Three stories and basement, surmounted by an observatory. Cost $12,000. Olmsted & Nicholson, architects, corner of Washington and Dearborn streets. This is one of the most magnificent private residences in the city, and the interior arrangement is no less admirable than its splendid and imposing exterior. Such buildings, while they reflect great credit on the architect, are, at the same time, an honor to the city.
A four story brick building on the corner of Madison street, both fronts of white cut stone, 36 by 60 feet. Cost $25,000. This is the residence of the Right Rev. Bishop O’Regan, and is, in many respects, the most princely private residence in the city. It is generally called “the Bishop’s Palace,” and so far as architectural beauty is concerned, it well deserves the name. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects, Masonic Temple.
A frame dwelling, for J. Russell, 25 by 60 feet, and two stories high. Cost $6,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
A two story frame dwelling, for Fr. Gray. Cost $5,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
Two frame dwellings, 40 by 42 feet, and two stories high, for T. B. Bryan. Cost 83,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
Frame dwelling, for T. Larmon, two stories high. Cost $2,500. Carter & Bauer, architects.
Lake Street.
Ross & Foster’s mammoth store on Lake street, 40 by 181 feet. This is one of the most magnificent and with but one exception the largest store in the United States. It is five stories in a height of 72 feet. The front is of cut stone from the Athen’s quarry, owned by D. C. Skelly. The design for the front, though not new, is very handsome, being a much improved copy of a very familiar and prominent store front in Broadway, N. Y. The interior arrangement and design is quite original in conception, and beautiful beyond any similar establishment to be found in the United States. The scope and design of an article of this nature, however, do not admit of a lengthy description of this truly magnificent edifice. Perhaps too, it would be superfluous to most of our readers, for the name of “Ross & Foster’s store” has become a household phrase, familiar to every one in Chicago, and a good many out of it; and conveys a volume of description in itself. Cost of the whole $50,000. Olmsted & Nicholson, architects. Cut stone by and from the quarry of D. C. Skelley, Masons, Malcom & Co. Carpenters, Deer & Lombard. Interior carpenter work of stone, A. Grannis. Iron work, Letz & Burling. Decorations, William Gibson, of N. York. Painting and Glazing, Thomson & Alston. Plastering, Fitzmorris & Donohue. Plumbing and gas fittings, Robert McFarlane.
A three story brick building by Colby & Co., on the corner of Clark street, 20 by 100. Cost $8,000. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
Clark Street.
A fine two story brick building for A. Frisbie, 20 by 80 feet, with handsome white cut stone front surmounted with three lion’s heads, carved in stone. Cost $14,000. Burling & Bauman, architects
.
A two story brick building for C. H. Harrison, 60 by 74 feet. Cost $12,000. Rents for $4,000. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
A five story brick building for the same, corner of Harrison street, 37 by 60. Cost $13,000. Rents for $4,500. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
Wabash Avenue.
A four story brick dwelling house, with stone front, for A. G. Burley, 24 by 42 feet. Cost $10,000. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
The Young Ladies’ Seminary, built of stone, 45 by 76 feet, and four stories high. Cost $18,000.—Carter & Bauer, architects.
Dwelling near Monroe street for T. Waters, Milwaukee brick and stone basements, three stories bigh with attic. Cost $13,000. Otto H. Matz, architect.
Brick dwelling, corner of Harrison street, for J. N. Barker, Esq., 24 by 38 feet. Dressings of cut Athen’s stone, front of Milwaukee pressed brick, three stories and basement. Cost 85,500. Mason, Robert Bishop. Carpenter, Gleason. Plumbing and gas, Robert McFarlane. Olmsted & Nicholson, architects.
A two story frame building for A. G. Willard, 25 by 86 feet. Cost $2,500. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
A five story brick building on the corner of Madison street, 28 by 88 feet. Cost $14,000 and rents for $4,000. This building is owned by Henry Knight, and was built for a private hotel or first class boarding house. It has been open since October last. It is fitted up in a style of simple elegance, with a special regard to comfort and convenience, and is kept by Mr. J. O. Whitcombs. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
Two dwellings, built of stone, for J, P. Warner and R. Tripp, 40 by 65 feet and four stories high. Cost $18,000.Carter & Bauer, architects.
A four story brick dwelling house for C. Price, 28 by 42 feet. Cost 82,000. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
Two frame cottages for Hucker & Jones, 44 by 54 feet and two stories high, Cost $5,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
Two more precisely same, same place, same cost, same architects, for R. T. King.
Dwelling house for Mrs. Henry Hubbard, Hubbard court, Wabash avenue. Cost $7,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
Dwelling house for Mrs. Adams, two stories high. Cost $4,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
A two story frame dwelling for W. Clingman. Cost $3,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
State Street.
A two story frame dwelling for L. Tiffany, 21 by 24 feet. Cost $2,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
Hotel for J. G. Gage, corner of Twelfth street, of Milwaukee brick, three stories high, 50 by 80. Cost $8,000. Mason, N. E. Peterson; Olmsted & Nicholson, architects.
A three story frame building for Jacob Harris, 40 by 60 feet. Cost $6,000. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
A brick building for T. Campbell, 22 by 60 feet, and three stories high. Cost $5,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
A three story frame dwelling house for Cyrenius Beers. Cost $4,500. Van Osdel & Bauman architects.
Randolph Street.
A block of buildings on the Court House Square, corner of La Salle streets, opposite Metropolitan Hall, 80 feet by 76, and five stories high, exclusive of a spacious basement, which really makes six stores. Built of brick, with beautiful white cut stone front. This is one of the most splendid edifices of its kind in the city, and its position allows it to be seen to the best advantage. It is just completed, and will be used for first-class stores and offices. The stores are now being fitted up. The pavement on the front and side of this block, is laid on the new high grade, (which is about 20 inches higher than the Court House pavement,) is composed of immense blocks of stone, most of them 12 feet long. Under the pavement is a dry and spacious vault. The owners of this fine property are Messrs. G. Roth, Judd & Wilson, and R. Wehrle. Cost $37,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
Two stores for T. Bunn and R. K. Swift, next to Metropolitan Hall. Built of Milwaukee pressed brick, 40 feet front and running back 165 feet. Five stories high. Cost $23,000. A very handsome block. Carter & Bauer, architects.
Dearborn Street.
A five story brick building, with white stone cut front and plate glass windows, for Hon. Geo. Manierre, and H. T. Dickey. To be used for offices, 41 by 80 feet. This house is built in a different style from any it the city, and is surpassed by few in appearance. The plate glass windows in front are ten feet high, and the hall is approached by a flight of broad, open-work iron stairs. Cost $24,000, and rents for $10,500. Vas Osdel & Bauman, architects, Masonic Temple.
A five story brick building for wholesale stores, for Miles Burton, 48 by 70 feet. Cost $19,000, and rents for $4,500. Van Osdel and Bauman, architects.
A five story brick building for stores, on the corner of Water street, 20 by 80 feet. Owned by F. Binz. Cost $11,500. Rents for 85,000.Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
Water Street.
The great Passenger Depot of the Illinois Central Railroad, built of rough dressed white stone with dressed edges. This immense edifice is 504 feet long and 167 feet wide. The Water street front is 60 feet high. At each of the four corners is a high tower, some 20 feet in diameter. The north front is three and a half stories high, and will contain all the offices of the various departments of the Company. The first story is 20 feet 6 inches high, the second 17 feet 6 inches, and the third 14 feet 6 inches. The roof, which forms a perfect arch, is now covered with tin, but this is to be covered with purple colored slate, from the Rutland quarry in Vermont. It is impossible to convey an adequate idea of this stupendous building by any written description. Two tracks of the road run into it. A few weeks ago, when we visited it, we found within its walls a village of small wooden houses, in which the workmen engaged in its construction were liv-ing. These, of course, are now remored, but when we say that there was root for a hundred good sized frame dwellings within its walls, some idea may be formed of its vast capacity. Cost $119,000. Otto H. Matz, architect of the Company, No. 64 Dearborn street.
Station House Hotel, built of brick, three stories high, 40 by 100 feet. Cost $10,000. Edward Haviland, firm of Haviland & Foster, architect, Marine Bank.
A five story brick building for wholesale stores, for Miles Burton, 60 by 100 feet. Cost $24,000, and rents for $9,000 a year. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects, Masonic Temple.
A block of five story brick buildings, 45 by 80 feet, for E. D. Taylor. Cost $20,000. F. E. Kahle, architect, 7 Clark street.
Water Street.
A brick building for George F. Foster. Cost $3,000.
Two stores built of brick, for T. H. Dunham, 40 by 146 feet, and five stories high. Cost $21,500. Carter & Bauer, architects.
A block of two stores, near the corner of Wabash Arenue, for James Wadsworth, Esq. Brick building, five stories high and a cellar, 49 feet front by 84 feet deep. Cost 817,500. Otto H. Matz, architect.
Washington Street.
Block of three dwelling houses built of brick, with beautiful white stone front, for J. W. Waughop, near Wabash Avenue, fronting 72 feet and running back 41 feet. Three stories and a basement. Cost $22,500. Carter & Bauer, architects.
McCarthy’s Block, consisting of two large stores, offices, and dwelling house, corner of Dearborn street, 37 by 80 feet, and fire stories high besides a basement. The front is of white eut stone, of chaste design. There are two large stores on the ground fioor. The upper stories are divided into offices and lodging rooms for single gentlemen. There is water on every floor, and in almost every room in the house; gas throughout and many other modern conveniences. In fine, every inch of available space in the building has been used to good advantage, and we do not know of a house in the city that is better arranged for its purpose. Olmsted & Nicholson, architects, in the house.
A four story brick building near Clark, for T. B. Bryan, 40 by 60 feet. Cost $7,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
A five story brick building, on Madison street, for Mr. Samuel Myers, 24 by 100 feet. Cost $8,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
Franklin Street.
Two stories built of brick, for C. H. Quinlan, 40 by 72 feet and four stories high. Cost $8,000, Carter & Bauer, architects.
A five story brick boarding house, for John Sollit, 40 by 90 feet. Cost $15,000. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
A fire story brick building, for A. Strehl, 24 by 60 feet. Cost $5,500. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
Dwelling house and store, for J. Haas, near Washington street, 22 by 40 feet, and four stories high. Built of brick and cost $6,000. Carter & Baun, architects.
A three story frame boarding house, on Buffalo street, 34 by 40 feet, for W. Worth. Cost $3,000. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
Two frame dwellings on Adams, street, for J. Weir, 40 by 40 feet. Two stories and a basement.
Cost $5,000. Carter & Baur, architects.
First class frame dwelling on Tyler street, between Wabash and Michigan Avenues, 38 by 78.
Two stories and stone basement. A very complete and handsome residence, finished in a very superior style and supplied with water, heat and gas. Cost $6,000. Builders, Cleveland & Russell. Olmsted & Nicholson, architects. This house is a very good example of that class of buildings, (so many of which have been erected in the city during the past year,) of which we spoke in our introductory remarks. The architectural arrangement is such as to combine durability and a handsome exterior, with almost every comfort and convenience that could be desired.
Edina Place.
A church.on the corner of Polk street, for the First German Evangelical Church, built of pressed brick, 40 by 55 feet. Cost 85,000. Carter & Bauer architects.
A frame dwelling, for D. C. Nicholas, two stories high. Cost $2,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
A four story brick dwelling house on Van Buren street, for J. B. Chandler, 38 by 50. Cost $14,000. Burling & Bauer, architects.
Brick house for C. P. Albey, on Monroe street, foot of Dearborn street, three stories high. Cost, $5,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
Wells Street.
A five story brick house for Messrs. Honore & Bradley. 52 by 70 feet. Cost, $16,000; rents for $5,500. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
A three story brick building for Mr. Coley, 30 by S0 feet. Cost $5,000. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
The Jewish Synagogue, removed and remoddled, at a cost of $2,500.Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
La Salle Street.
A handsome four story brick house, with white marble front, opposite the Court House, for Mr.
Hoyne, Cost, $20,000.
A five story brick building near Lake street, for Messrs. Starkweather & Mooney, 50 by 80 feet. Cost, $30,000; rents for $9,500. Handsome white cut stone front, with plate stone windows. VVan Osdel & Bauman, architects.
A brick building for J. M. Reis, between Lake and Randolph streets 16 by 70 feet, and four stories high. Cost, $4,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
Five dwellings on Twelfth street, for Messrs. Richmond, Johnston & Sexton, 195 front by 40 feet; brick and mastic fronts, with highly ornamental door dressings; three stories and base-ment. Total cost $40,000. Olmsted & Nicholson, architects. This is one of the handsomest blocks of buildings in the city: and its peculiar color and style of architecture causes it to be much admired. It commands a view of the lake and of Michigan avenue, unsurpassed by any in the city and being itself visible along almost the whole extent of the avenue, it is quite an ornament to that neighborhood.
A two story frame dwelling on Jackson street, for J. T. Hierson. Cost $6,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
SOUTH BRANCH.
Chicago Oil Manufactory, on the Chicago river. built of brick, 40 by 100 feet, and two stories high. Cost $5,000. Edward Haviland, architect, Marine Bank.
Other Buildings in the South Division.
Three dwellings, for R. K. Swift, two stories, 18 by 30. Cost $35,000. Olmsted & Nicholson, architects.
A two story frame dwelling for M. B. Kaylor. Cost $3,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
A two story brick dwelling house for P. Button. Cost $6,000. Van Osdel & Bauman, architects.
A warehouse for Col. James, 60 by 120 feet. Cost $2,000. Carter & Bauer, architects.
Frame dwelling for Henry Knight, 60 by 120 feet. Cost $2,000. Olmsted & Nicholson, architects.
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